Badenoch admits Brexit is not working and Tories 'did not deliver' on immigration

Kemi Badenoch has admitted that Brexit isn’t working, saying the previous government “did not deliver” after the country voted to end free movement.

- MILLIE COOKE

Her admission comes as the Tories promised to offer a “new leader with a new approach” to tackle high levels of migration, warning: “The system is broken, and, until we accept that, all politicians are doomed to fail.”

The Tory leader told a press conference in Westminster: “We ended free movement, but the system that replaced it is not working. Under my leadership, we are learning from our mistakes.”

Pre-empting the publication of net migration figures today, Ms Badenoch said: “Tomorrow’s figures will likely show a reduction in net immigration and no doubt the new government will try to take credit for that reduction. But that change is due to the reforms that the Conservatives made during our final months in power.”

At the end of 2023, the party announced an increase to the minimum earning threshold for overseas workers by nearly 50 per cent from its current position of £26,200 to £38,700, as well as ending the 20 per cent going-rate salary discount for shortage occupations.